21 Comments
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Kunal Modi's avatar

Great story.

Traveling (especially under constraints) is very underrated. I can relate to your story.

My traveling experiences have shaped a lot of my personality.

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Kenny Alami's avatar

Thanks, Kunal!

How would you say it's changed your personality?

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Kunal Modi's avatar

The biggest is Dealing with Uncertainty.

For example, I once drove around the world for 75 days through 15 countries with a "washed" passport. How? Just before the trip started, I put to my shorts whose pocket had my passport in the washing machine. It washed away most of the visas. I had a choice - continue and deal with the situations that arise or cancel.

I continued and had the best experience in my life. But moreover, my personality is now able to deal with uncertainties much better and with more patience.

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Kenny Alami's avatar

Oh man! How’s you deal with the visas in the end??

And I’ve had a very similar experience regarding uncertainty. My tolerance for it is way higher now!

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Kunal Modi's avatar

Visas - that's a long story for another day. But yes, tolerance and patience have increased for me too.

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

Milan might not be the best city to strand in without money - it's posh. I think in the Italian villages people are generally very welcoming and kind.

We always get sooooo much free food - but it's through friends and family. So not sure how they would act towards travellers.

I don't think I would dare to go travel without money!

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Kenny Alami's avatar

Oh are you living in Italy? I've been in the small villages as well. Fell in love with Italy during that trip!

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Franck J's avatar

Great issue BTW 👌

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Kenny Alami's avatar

Thank you 🙏

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Mike Carr's avatar

Great story and message. “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take!” The thought of traveling without money is very daunting to me. I always like to triple-check I have everything for every potential "what if" scenario. It would be a good exercise to try and loosen up, find my way if things go wrong, etc. There's always a lesson to be learned.

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Kenny Alami's avatar

My wife is like you and I'm more of a "let's figure things out as we go" type of guy 😅 Both personality traits save a purpose though. It's a matter of balance based on the situation!

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Mike Carr's avatar

Haha yeah I think you’re right, balance is key.

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Ryan Walsh 🟢's avatar

I was living in southern Spain for the summer when I was 19.

Everyone warned me that if I traveled to Morocco, I'd get pickpocketed.

I really wanted to go to Morocco.

I ended up buying a 3-city tour from the ferry town, and I only brought 2 € with me into Morocco.

(In retrospect, having so LITTLE money was its own risk! I don't even remember how I got home!)

Vendors were pitching me products nonstop.

I enjoyed seeing the tours and seeing all the people offering so many different products, but all I could say was "Sorry, I don't have any money."

The crazy part was that one vendor approached me with a beautiful bracelet. "50 €", they said.

"Sorry, I don't have any money."

They kept decreasing the price of the bracelet:

"40 €".

"Sorry, I don't have any money."

"20 €".

"Sorry, it's lovely, but I really don't have any money."

"2 €".

"Oh, seriously? I actually do have that much."

So I bought it for my sister.

And somehow got home with 0 in my pocket.

Amazing lesson in negotiation.

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Kenny Alami's avatar

Half of my family is from Morocco so I totally empathize with that situation. Negotiation is a game there. And good on you for taking the leap and bringing only 2 euros! Would you do it again?

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Ryan Walsh 🟢's avatar

I definitely want to go back to Morocco. It was amazing.

I've never seen anywhere else like it. Or met any other people who speak so many languages.

The trip was too short.

Would I bring just 2 €? No, I'd just use the same caution as traveling anywhere else that is touristy.

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Franck J's avatar

Testimonials 😅 starting this week! 💁

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Kenny Alami's avatar

Ah, man! I also need to be better at this. I have a friend who works in the review business and you’d be surprised to know that most people leave a review after the 3rd follow-up!

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Franck J's avatar

that's exactly what I'm afraid of! And then thinking of building a email sequence, when I even started to send one message...

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Kenny Alami's avatar

Understandable! I think in that case writing the first message is the win and you can build on top of that. That’s how I trick myself at least lol

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Franck J's avatar

Yeah. Let's go! 🙌

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Kenny Alami's avatar

Let’s do it!!

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